Welcome all! I found this story on my Google Drive from when I was younger and decided to edit and upload it! It will probably be a bit cliche and cringey, but I don't have the heart to make too many changes! Books 1 and 2 are completed, but I will have to write book 3 from scratch.
I want to make it very clear from the beginning that I have made minor changes in the worldbuilding from the show. Most are miniscule and don't change anything from the main storyline; they just offer additional motivation for my OC. Regardless, I hope you all enjoy!
Check out my tumblr for any updates on frequency and some fanart :)
'Agni save me. I could just die like this. How could anyone willingly live under these conditions?'
Never in Kona's life had she ever been so cold. She had lived in many miserable conditions in her life, but the bitter cold of the South Pole was second to none. She felt her cheeks burning with the biting wind and her hair slipping out of her braids and bun. It was difficult to take comfort from the shining sun, its glare reflecting off the icy water below the ship. No, this was not where she would choose to be, if she had a choice–which, of course, she didn't.
"You look a bit uncomfortable, my dear, Kona. Would you like some more tea?"
Kona turned her gaze to the old man who was calmly playing Pai Sho and sipping tea. She immediately straightened up at his piercing stare. She willed herself to halt the shivering that she hadn't even taken notice of before her sulking was interrupted.
"No, Master Iroh. I am fine."
His sharp gaze didn't falter. "There's no need to push yourself, Kona. You are not a firebender. You will catch your death standing out here like this," Iroh chided, but ultimately returned his gaze to his game board, placing another tile whilst taking a sip of his own warming tea. She idly wondered how he could play the same game over and over without an opponent to offer a new variation.
"Prince Zuko gave me this station, Master Iroh, and I will not disobey him." Kona returned her gaze to the icy sea that stretched endlessly around their ship, missing the displeased look that Master Iroh sent her way.
Truth be told: what she was looking for was a bit unclear, as she had no idea what a "sign of the Avatar" would look like, but she wasn't in the mood for the sour look the young prince would send her way by asking.
Throwing his displeasure aside, Iroh hummed and turned his sights to his nephew, the prince, who stood at the head of the ship. "I think he often forgets that you aren't a bender, my dear. He will not fault you for not being able to regulate your body heat as he can."
Kona nodded in response, but did not otherwise respond, still watching the waters that seemed to stretch on forever. From time to time, she found her gaze wandering back to the brooding figure at the head of the ship. He could stand there for hours, seemingly unaffected by the cold. It was pretty impressive, considering most of his head was shaved. The only hair on his head was his pony tail and one of his eyebrows. The other, of course, was burned away during his accident.
She shook her head to throw herself out of her thoughts. As she looked back out at the blinding sea, she steeled her body. This was the least that she could do for the prince; he was just asking her to stand somewhere and look. If she couldn't do that, there was no point being on the ship at all.
Iroh shook his head with a short, quiet sigh. 'Teenagers. Always so stubborn. Prince Zuko will not be happy with his oversight.'
Kona and her master stayed that way for a long while, just as they did every day on this ship. They wake up, search for the Avatar, eat lunch, search for the Avatar, maybe train, search for the Avatar, eat, sleep, repeat. It could get boring, but they saw some beautiful sights on the way. Kona was partial to the air temples that they had seen nearly three years ago. Even in ruins, the architecture was beautiful and the lands serene. Much better than this terrible frozen wasteland.
She let out a barely perceptible sigh, before a bright light entered her vision. Across the frozen waters that she had just cursed, a pillar of light erupted into view, casting its white glow across the already bright landscape. 'What in Agni's name…?'
"Prince Zuko!" She nearly yelled, so shocked by the sudden change in scenery that her voice left her without thinking. 'What could have caused this? There was nothing down here!'
Hearing the near panic in her voice, Zuko rushed across the deck to her side of the ship, but what he saw nearly took his breath away. Without realizing, he gripped the rails of the deck so hard that his knuckles turned white. "Finally," he breathed before turning to his uncle, who remained seated at his game table. "Uncle, do you realize what this means?"
Kona hasn't heard him this excited in what felt like years. She couldn't blame him either. Normally, they would follow random rumors and go on wild weasel-goose chases. If this was a genuine sign of the Avatar, this would change everything. Excitement started to bubble in her chest, but she did her best to keep her face neutral. This wasn't about her. This was about the prince.
"I won't get to finish my game?" Iroh guessed forlornly, placing another tile. She couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. How could he be so disinterested? This was the first strange event that they had seen since the prince and his small crew had set out. Even if it turned out to be nothing, at least this was some sort of adventure to fill the time.
"It means my search is about to come to an end!" Prince Zuko insisted, and turned back towards the light that was slowly decreasing in size, hands tightening on the rails once more. "That light came from an incredibly powerful source! It has to be him!"
Iroh released a shallow sigh, his disinterest clear to his wards. "Or it's just the celestial lights. We've been down this road before, Prince Zuko."
Internally, however, General Iroh begged Agni that this was something, anything related to the Avatar. His nephew would not be able to handle another disappointment, and Kona could not survive much longer in the arctic climate without proper clothing or bending.
Kona's excitement immediately waned at Master Iroh's words. She felt her face fall. She should have known there was an explanation. There always was.
"I don't want you to get too excited over nothing." The old general continued in a gentler tone and gestured to the opposite side of the table. "Please, sit. Why don't you enjoy a cup of calming Jasmine tea? You too, Kona. You look like you're about to freeze."
Kona cringed, knowing what was about to ensue. Waving away the prince's thoughts would only provoke him; he hated being treated as a child.
As predicted, Prince Zuko glared at his uncle. "I don't need any calming tea! I need to capture the Avatar!" He swiveled his gaze to glare at Kona, taking in her rosy, wind burnt cheeks and her abnormally disheveled hair. "Inform the Helmsman to head a course for the light. You saw where it was. Go, now!"
She bowed. "Of course, my prince." She rushed towards the bridge, not wanting to remain for the bickering that would follow. She hated when they bickered.
Silently, she thanked Agni that bridge duty meant she got to stay in the warm cabin.
"You don't need to yell at her. She would have gone if you asked nicely too."
Zuko rolled his eyes, but guilt did trickle into his chest. He was aware that he talked to her much less frequently than he used to. He could count the words that she had said to him this week on two hands (usually some form of "yes, Prince Zuko," he recalled bitterly).
And when did she start bowing to him anyway?
"I was just giving her a command, uncle. Besides, her chattering teeth were giving me a headache."
The old man hid his smile behind his tea cup. His nephew and his charge were so predictable he had to stop himself from laughing. Oh, to be young again…
The day progressed and the ship got closer to the source of the light. Unfortunately, they had to anchor overnight due to the new moon and resulting lack of vision. Prince Zuko wasn't pleased, but gave the order, nonetheless, stating that the crew would need their strength when they confronted the Avatar. With some words from his uncle, he joined his crew for some much-needed rest as well, though sleep did not find him easily. The prospects of the next few days weighed heavy on his mind, and before long light began to pool into his quarters.
As day broke, Kona returned to her position on the bridge, though she was sure the helmsman was getting tired of her presence. She knew little of nautical navigation, and he was more than twice her age. Though she did get to hear some nice stories of his wife and daughter back home.
From the bridge, she watched Prince Zuko's training. He was sparring with two crew members in preparation for meeting the Avatar. She watched as he put all his strength and energy into his bending, twisting through the air as he attacked and defended relentlessly. It was so different from how he used to bend when he was young. Her chest tightened at the reminder.
She watched Master Iroh scold him, clearly irritated by his lack of progress. He firebended a plume of flame in the prince's direction that evaporated inches before it reached Prince Zuko's face. The precision and control was clear even to a non bender, and it was a stark contrast to the aggressive and nearly uncontrolled bending that normally came from the teen.
Kona shook her head. She swore that Master Iroh riled up the prince on purpose with how often his words and actions set him off.
The prince turned and took out his anger on his sparring partners. He fired a quick and angry blast in their direction. One of the crew was too slow and got blown backwards.
Kona winced while the Helmsman bristled at her side, apparently eyeing the training as well. "That wasn't even during a spar. General Iroh lets him get away with too much."
"Master Iroh knows what he's doing." Kona defended, bristling and matching his tone. "Plus, Prince Zuko outranks Master Iroh. It's a miracle that he listens at all."
'Besides, Prince Zuko is much calmer than he used to be. If the Helmsman had seen him right after the Agni Kai…'
The helmsman immediately backtracked, cursing himself for forgetting who he had been speaking with. "Apologies, Kona. It is easy to forget that you are General Iroh's charge. You act very much like one of the crew."
"I am one of the crew, Helmsman." Kona argued, thrown by the wild change in subject. "Who raised me has nothing to do with my status. I'm still just a Fire Navy soldier, just like you."
"Forgive me, but you will never be just a member of the crew." The helmsman's eyes were not unkind, but they were resolute. After all, she wasn't a firebender. Nonbenders were not admitted into the Fire Navy. She was only here because the prince and his uncle willed it.
And everyone knew it.
She ground her teeth. "You have your course. Get it done, helmsman. Prince Zuko will accept no delays." He did not seem surprised at her sudden change in manner, simply giving her a nod and returning to his duties. Teenagers.
'The cold would be better compared to the company of the bridge. Looking down on her just because she was a nonbender. What a jerk,' Kona thought as she left the bridge and returned to the main deck. She found General Iroh feasting on his roasted duck. He looked up as he heard her approach.
"Ah, Kona. Have you come to eat with this old man? You should hurry or the cold will catch up."
She did her best to forget her indignation from the prior conversation and sat at the table. "Thank you, Master Iroh," she said and took her seat across from him. She helped herself to some of the roasted vegetables, not entirely hungry.
"Always so formal," Iroh sighed, frowning. "Has your day gone well? I see Prince Zuko has put you on bridge duty. That was nice of him."
"The bridge has been fine. We are nearing the source of the light. It should be only another hour or so."
Iroh made a sound of approval. "Good, good. The sooner Prince Zuko sees it was just celestial lights, the sooner we can get you someplace warmer. Maybe we should suggest Guzaon beach. I haven't been there in ages. The black sand does wonders for dry feet."
Kona nodded and hummed in agreement, not much in the mood for talking. She was unaware of the scowl that drew in her brows and tensed her mouth as she glared over the expansive ocean.
Master Iroh studied her troubled features. Since when had this become such a common expression on her face? It felt like yesterday that she had been as young and joyful as the young Prince Zuko. He did his best to keep the anger he had for his brother from boiling in his belly; after many years of practice, it was relatively easy to ignore.
"Did something happen on the bridge? You do not seem yourself."
"It's nothing, Master Iroh. I'm just tired."
Kona could tell that he didn't believe her for a second, but it wasn't worth the effort the conversation would take. Thankfully, he just took a sip of his tea before returning to his meal. Kona sent silent gratitude to Agni for the small victories in life.
Of course, it didn't last long. It was not long after they had finished their meal that a clear change of the ship's direction occurred, and a crewman ran over, informing them of a flare going off in the distance. Prince Zuko had used the trajectory of the flare and some old charts to place their new arrival at the Southern Water Tribe. Kona was ordered to suit up and assist in the efforts to reclaim the Avatar from the tribe.
Iroh had given her a wide grin and told her that it was proof of the prince's trust in her abilities, causing Kona to scoff audibly as she took off to her room. She knew Prince Zuko was only calling for her in order to avoid his uncle's ire for not employing his student on the mission. They were not as good of friends as they used to be.
Regardless, she decided that she was going to use this opportunity to prove herself an important member of this crew. If she was essential to capturing the Avatar, there was no way the stupid firebenders could ignore her worth on the ship.
Soon, Kona and the designated crew found themselves geared up and standing at attention at the head of the ship. She couldn't help but notice how few of the crew would be entering the Water Tribe. It was just the prince, her, and one other, Lieutenant Jee, if she had to guess. Yes, Prince Zuko's crew was small to begin with, but not even Master Iroh was attending the search. Was that his or the prince's doing? Was the prince overconfident or did Master Iroh still think this was another long shot?
Moments later, about a half dozen more men showed up. Kona nearly rolled her eyes at their tardiness. She really needed to talk to Master Iroh about the crew's attitude towards the prince. She didn't know if it was his age or his temper, but the crew clearly didn't take him seriously. It was unacceptable.
"Alright, men," the prince said, addressing his crew. "This is what we've been waiting for. Keep your eyes sharp and capture the Avatar by any means necessary. He may have mastered the four elements, but he is likely old and likely out of practice. Together, we will capture him and return to our homes in the Fire Nation. Kona and Jee, you will stick with me. The rest of you will follow when we signal."
Kona and the other soldiers saluted and got in formation. Most of the crew was about as optimistic as General Iroh, but there were a few that, for the first time in a long time, felt hope that they would finally be going home for good. They latched onto the hope and took it with them as they prepared for a potential fight.
Kona took a deep breath and centered herself. She would have to be extremely careful; she may be well trained in hand-to-hand combat and martial weapons, but she had to admit she would be at a severe advantage against a fully-fledged Avatar. 'Be like Prince Zuko,' she encouraged herself. 'Confidence, pride, determination.'
This was it. They would all be going home soon. She could feel it.